Birthday Celebration at Boat Street Cafe

I was granted the great pleasure of planning a birthday party for my best friend, Natalie. This was her fortieth birthday so I wanted to make sure it was extra super duper special. Let me just start out by sharing that Natalie is a true blue friend. The kind of friend that loves without boundaries and always has my best interests at heart. She is my kindred spirit and even shares my love of all things French; especially Parisian. Keeping this in mind, it was a no brainer to plan her birthday at a downtown Seattle French restaurant called Boat Street Cafe.

Although unassuming from the exterior, the ambience at Boat Street Cafe exemplifies a charming French countryside cafe. From weathered table tops to mismatched chairs to simple place settings, the restaurant is near perfection. The walls display just the right amount of art and the dim lighting creates warmth. I provided the simple bouquet of hydrangeas and the delectable macaroons from our favorite West Seattle Bakery, Bakery Nouveau. Everything else in the photos was provided by Boat Street Cafe.  

Boat Street Cafe is widely known for serving incredible brunch, but they also provide a lovely dinner menu. The snapshots and descriptions below are examples of their dinner menu offerings but people in our group also tried Carlton Farms Pork Rib Chop, Roasted Cauliflower Salad, Boat Street Pickle Plate, Steamed Mussels, Warm Bread and Butter, and Rosemary Veal Chop. Dare I mention that someone even tried the Braised and Seared Lamb Tongue?

Alaskan True Cod: spinach, roasted blood orange, Tremiti olives (Tremiti olives are Italian olives that are picked young and fresh, then immersed in sea salt and water for several months)

Skillet Roasted Painted Hills Ribeye Steak: caper aioli, parsley-shallot salad, lemon

Pan Roasted Mad Hatcher Chicken: avgolemono,baby leeks, golden turnips (avgolemono is a sauce or soup made with lemon juice and egg, mixed with broth and heated until thickened)

At Natalie's request, a chocolate cake with chocolate ganache filling and orange buttercream frosting; special ordered fromWest Seattle's Stuffed Cakes. Her wish was our command.

Finally, the birthday girl with her husband, Dave. Happy Birthday, dear friend!